How does Molecular Combing compare to FISH?

Molecular Combing technology samples the entire genome in a single analysis; there are only a few other technologies that can provide such complete genome testing. Compared to FISH, DNA prepared using Molecular Combing is linearly arranged using the force of the air-liquid meniscus to drive chromosome stretching and arrangement. As the DNA is combed with a constant stretching factor, the relative positions of specific DNA probes (that are hybridized along the length of the chromosomes) can be compared more precisely at a high resolution (1 kb).

How does Molecular Combing compare to PCR?

The key differences between Molecular Combing and PCR and other sequencing techniques are that Molecular Combing is performed on a single molecule and, therefore, requires no amplification or averaging of results. Molecular Combing is well positioned to establish itself in indication areas where cytogenetic analysis, PCR and immunocapture are already used for diagnostic purposes. It will also offer significant advantages in time, cost and accuracy over traditional tests done by either of these methods.

Sequencing of even a single chromosome (average size of about a hundred million bases) would take much longer than analysis by Molecular Combing, which can provide a clear and rapid screening in cases where sequencing is not necessary.

What kind of cells can be used with Molecular Combing?

You can use DNA from any cell type and from any species.

What is the biggest length of DNA molecule that can be combed?

We can currently identify and analyze combed single DNA molecules with a length of 1 Mb.

Is the Molecular Combing technology reproducible?

Molecular Combing is highly reproducible when you use Genomic Vision products, i.e., the Molecular Combing System (MCS), CombiCoverslips (vinyl-silane treated coverslips) and protocols. These products and procedures undergo rigorous Quality Control and standardization tests.

What is the resolution achieved with Molecular Combing?

Is it possible to identify DNA rearrangements?

With Molecular Combing you can indentify different rearrangements, including inversions, deletions, duplications and balanced translocations.

Can I identify very large rearrangements with Molecular Combing?

The largest rearrangement that the technology has currently identified has a length of 1.7 kb.

Will Molecular Combing identify the number of gene copies?

Molecular Combing enables all gene copies to be visualized and their number discerned.

It’s difficult to comb single DNA molecules with the approaches found in many publications. What does Genomic Vision’s Molecular Combing System offer compared to these other approaches?

Unlike other approaches Genomic Vision’s Molecular Combing System is automated and uses a constant stretching factor of 2 kb/µm enabling the extension of DNA fragments that range in size between 300 kb and 2 Mb. Additionally the DNA is irreversibly attached and aligned uniformly in parallel with all DNA molecules over the entire surface. Genomic Vision’s Molecular Combing procedure can resolve 1 kb of DNA.